Lebanon Sex Offense Attorneys

Statutory rape is the sexual penetration of a person classified as one of the following:

• Mitigated Statutory Rape – a 15-17-year-old victim and a defendant at least 4-5 years older.
• Statutory Rape – a 13- or 14-year-old victim and a defendant 4-10 years older or a 15-17-year-old victim and defendant 5-10 years older.
• Aggravated Statutory Rape – an alleged victim 13-17 years old and a defendant 10 years older.
• Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure – a victim 13-17 years old and a defendant at least 4 years older, and the defendant had a position of trust, supervision, or discipline by legal, professional, or occupational status, or had parental or custodial authority over the child and used their status to have sex with them.
• Rape of a Child – a victim 4-12 years old.
• Aggravated Rape of a Child – a victim 3 years old or younger.

Penalties for Sex Crimes in Tennessee: What to Expect

Sexual battery and rape are felonies, and the applicable fines and prison term depend on the circumstances of the crime. Sexual battery is generally a Class E felony, which carries a fine of up to $3,000 and/or 1-6 years in prison. Aggravated sexual battery and rape are more serious Class B felonies, penalized by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or 8-30 years in prison. Aggravated rape is charged as a Class A felony punishable by up to $50,000 in fines and/or 15-60 years in prison, and the aggravated rape of a child will result in up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Be aware that almost all sex offenders must register with the national sex offender registry which seriously impacts where convicted individuals can live, where they can work, and even what their neighbors, friends, and family may think of them. Registered individuals may also need to check in regularly with the local police for several years to the rest of their life as a precaution.

Strategic Defense Against Sex Crime Charges

Many possible defenses could apply to a rape or sexual battery case. For instance, for sexual activities between two adults, the defendant could prove that the other person did consent and that there was no force used during the sexual act. An argument for innocence can also be proven by an alibi showing the defendant couldn't possibly have been the person who committed the act, or they could argue insanity based on the claim that the defendant is mentally ill and did not have the capacity to control their behavior, form criminal intent, or understand that what they were doing were unlawful.

Attorney Donnavon Vasek has represented many people throughout Middle Tennessee charged with sex offenses ranging from sexual battery to sexual contact with a minor to sexual battery by an authority figure to statutory rape to rape of a child, among many other sexual offenses. In our experience, sex offenses and domestic assault are the two offenses most commonly investigated or charged that are predicated on false allegations. The root of the issue is that when charged with a sex offense, bond conditions are issued to stay away from that person and directly impact any child custody arrangements that have been made or ordered by the judge.

If you are being investigated for a sex offense, do not wait until charged to contact an experienced and skilled defense attorney. Contacting an attorney immediately can make the difference between whether you will be charged or not. We represent individuals accused of sex offenses in the Lebanon, TN area and many other communities across Middle Tennessee. If you are facing sex-related accusations, contact our firm today to discuss your defense options and what we need do immediately to proactively defend you.

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